The design is based on Zaha Hadid's personal
interpretation of the surrounding landscape and the relationship to
the original building.

When Ordrupgaard reopens its doors, after being closed for
almost two years, the museum will have doubled both its exhibition
space and public space.

Photo: arcspace

The growth of Ordrupgaard presented an
opportunity to explore new formal relationships between the
components of the museum and the garden that frames it, in so far
that the ensemble constitutes a kind of topography in itself.

/Zaha Hadid

Photo: arcspacePhoto: arcspace
Ordrupgaard was built in 1918 as a country estate and showcase for
insurance magnate Wilhelm Hansen's remarkable collection of French
Impressionist and Danish paintings. It has been a public museum
since 1953.

Photo: arcspace
The design is based on Zaha Hadid's personal interpretation of the
surrounding landscape and the relationship to the original
building; both in size and in the proportions of the new
galleries.

Opacity is achieved by an in-situ black lava concrete skin that
acts as a counterpoint for the various glazed elements that reflect
the landscape and allow glimpses of the interior. Earthworks
and embankments bring the building into the ground at key points
around the plan.

Photo: arcspace

Photo: arcspacePhoto: arcspacePhoto: arcspace

Photo: arcspace
The new entrance is accessed from a courtyard that physically
separates the new building from the existing long French Gallery
building.
The Foyer runs parallel to the courtyard "pointing" visitors in
the direction of the galleries.

Photo: arcspacePhoto: arcspacePhoto: arcspacePhoto: arcspace
Lighting slits act as orientation devices to the visitors. Natural
light is filtered and moderated as it passes through the building
shell; the roof.

A long sloping ramp divides the Temporary and Permanent Gallery
spaces and leads to the Multipurpose Hall and Café which face out
to the garden.

Photo: arcspacePhoto: arcspacePhoto: arcspacePhoto: arcspace
Terraces are designed to connect the new to the existing Mansion
garden terraces; again providing visitors with a visual connection
between the buildings.
Visit the Image Library to download larger images.

Model photo courtesy Zaha Hadid
Architects

Drawing courtesy Zaha Hadid
Architects
Site Plan

Drawing courtesy Zaha Hadid
Architects
Ground Floor Plan

Even though Zaha Hadid's building has a
strikingly different and contemporary idiom in relation to the
original country house, she has managed to capture the special
spirit of the site and skilfully bring it up to date. Despite the
new extension, Ordrupgaard retains its basic character.